The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is bringing back Monster Flash, a Halloween-themed bus, for three free events later this month, in an effort to introduce the community to the upcoming Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network. Set to take place on October 25 and 26, the family-friendly gatherings are designed to entertain while also informing residents about the transit investments being made in the area.
According to a press release by Montgomery County Government, activities will include multilingual storytime, crafts, and games, as well as a dance party and tours inside the Monster Flash bus. County Executive Marc Elrich expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "The Monster Flash bus draws attention to the Flash network in a creative way that reaches families and neighbors where they are. Events like these help residents learn about the investments we're making to provide faster, more reliable transit."
Residents can catch the decorated bus at Twinbrook Library on October 25 from 10 a.m. to noon for a multilingual story hour taking place in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Later that day, the fun moves to the Germantown Library from 2 to 4 p.m. for a bilingual story hour in English and Spanish. The final event will be HalloWheaton at Marian Fryer Town Plaza on October 26, from noon until 4 p.m.
MCDOT Director Chris Conklin highlights the importance of local engagement: "We created these events as a way to build relationships with local communities and introduce the Flash BRT service in a fun and engaging way," he told Montgomery County Government. Conklin adds that connecting with residents to answer questions is vital as construction and utility work begin on the Veirs Mill Road corridor for the Flash BRT, which is set to launch in 2028.
The current Flash buses run along Colesville Road/Columbia Pike between Silver Spring Transit Center, Briggs Chaney, and Burtonsville, with frequency varying from every seven to fifteen minutes on weekdays to every thirty minutes on weekends. The planned expansion aims to bring faster, more reliable bus services throughout Montgomery County while improving pedestrian and bicycle safety along transport corridors. For more details on the Monster Flash events or to learn about the Flash BRT project and other MCDOT programs, residents are encouraged to visit MCDOT's official website and follow their social media channels.
